The heart and passion of Zahli come from our founder, Mohammad Issmail—a man with love for his motherland turned into an extraordinary culinary experience in Sydney’s most notable food suburb, The Rocks. 

A restaurant embracing a rich history… 

Zahli Restaurant is named after the breathtaking city Zahlé in Lebanon, where poets, writers and winemakers hail. Zahlé is also known for its beautiful architecture and food, making it a must-see destination, just 38km east of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut. 

From the opening of Zahli in July 2014 to now, our restaurant has gone from strength to strength. It is now a Lebanese staple for Sydneysiders and international visitors to take a trip through Mohammad’s take on Lebanese cuisine. 

We have been awarded the AGFG (Australian Good Food Guide) Readers Choice Award three years in a row to date with great pride and honour. We choose not to boast about how exquisite our establishment and food is as we believe it speaks for itself. 

Instead, we take every opportunity to recognise how hard work and dedication have enabled us to achieve such renowned awards as a team, restaurant, and business to motivate future generations to follow their dreams and never give up. 

“Food is everything we are. It’s an extension of nationalist feeling, ethnic feeling, your personal history, your province, your region, your tribe, your grandma. It’s inseparable from those from the get-go.” Anthony Bourdain

A culinary experience is much more than a reservation and trying something new to eat. In our opinion, our restaurant is a way for us to showcase how rich and passionate the Lebanese culture is through tradition and, most importantly, family. These key factors enabled us to bring enjoyment, good food, ambience, and inviting service to Sydney’s urban landscape. 

A restaurant serving Lebanese food, an inviting ambience and international-style service 

Food: What is unique about Zahli Restaurant is the perfect balance of traditional and contemporary Middle Eastern cuisine. Every one of our dishes is specific and cleverly curated with a modern twist by our executive chef, Elie Abi Rached, the culinary genius behind the taste and aroma placed on your table. 

Elie has ensured to uphold every item’s traditional flavours on the menu, incorporating his flare with every bite. To ensure that culture is not lost, our menu boasts of traditional spices and condiments so that the essence of the Lebanese cuisine is not lost in our The Rocks kitchen. 

Ambience: Our unique and open space enables diners to feel relaxed, comfortable and carefree when dining at our restaurant. Our guests dine with us for not only the food but the atmosphere, which is unique and welcoming in colour, giving you that traditional Lebanese feels. 

Guests tend to spend the whole night at our restaurant as in Lebanese culture; we take great pleasure in spending an ample amount of time with our friends and family celebrating life, birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions. 

Service: In Lebanese culture, whether you’re attending a restaurant or simply visiting a home of friends/family, how you host your guests is one of the essential factors of dining and spending time with your loved ones. 

An old saying passed on for generations when one walks into the home of another is, “my home is your home”. This resonates with how we service our guests as we want to make them feel as comfortable and welcome as possible. At Zahli, we are here to cater to our guests’ needs, and we must offer a five-star service when our food is of the highest quality. 

“I remember in my younger years when the family would gather for a meal. I would look around and think; This. This is magic”. Mohammad Issmail.

Mohammad and the team at Zahli would like to thank their guests for coming to our establishment and making what Zahli is today, magic. 

If you are interested in indulging in authentic Middle Eastern food, we can gladly provide a memorable meal. Zahli is here to provide you with a culinary experience like no other. Call us on (02) 9318 2228 to reserve a table or for pick-up orders.